3 Best Hotels in Connemara and County Mayo, Ireland

Nineteenth-century time travelers would feel right at home in this three-story, town-center Georgian house, Clifden's oldest building (1820) that once housed the harbormaster. The ancestral portraits, mounted fish, Victorian engravings, and cosseting fabrics all lend a frozen-in-amber allure. It's made all the more homey by touches like model boats and, alas, a few too many animal-skin rugs. A roaring turf fire in the living room greets you as you enter the burnished breakfast room, while the nearby terrace has been gloriously sheathed in glass for a conservatory feel. The peaceful setting by the harbor quay ensures a good night's sleep and the guest rooms are unusually spacious; those in the main house are imaginatively decorated with deep-color walls and wonderful period accents; all but two have sea views. There's also a new wing with seven studio rooms with balconies overlooking the harbor.

This pink, creeper-clad, two-story Georgian house occupies 30 lovely acres and has a jaw-dropping view: a gorgeous lawn backdropped by Ballinakill Bay and the dreamy mountains of Connemara. Inside, the grandfather clock in the hall flanked by framed family portraits and hunting prints sets the informal, country-house tone. The Conservatory Bar is an elegant, light-filled spot with rattan bucket chairs and octagonal marble and cast-iron tables, while the drawing room is decorated in low-key shades. Well-used antiques, four-poster or large brass bedsteads, and sumptuous drapes decorate the solidly comfortable and impeccably kept bedrooms. The best rooms are at the front on the first floor, overlooking the bay. At dinner in the superb restaurant, Killary lobster with seasonal leaves and lemon herb butter is one of the tastiest entrées.

Constructed in 1853, this former coast guard station and convent has a stunning waterside location looking across a wide bay to local landmark Downpatrick Head. The ever-changing sea views can be enjoyed from the 100-foot-long conservatory that runs the length of the front of the building. Furnished with low-key antiques and comfortable leather armchairs, it is the perfect place for idle days and evening aperitifs. Owner--chef Frances McSweeney prepares a menu of the freshest local produce at dinner, with an emphasis on local fish and meat, and cooks an outstanding breakfast to order. Rooms are elegant, uncluttered and spacious, with power showers, finest cotton towels, and blackout curtains to ensure a comfortable sleep on long summer nights. Frances, who grew up here before spending 20 years in the United States, is a fount of local lore. She and her late husband took two years to renovate the imposing property from a near-ruin, and she combines an attention to detail with stylish design, high standard of comfort, and a warm welcome.